tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937805046036216532024-03-08T16:28:32.095-08:00Bad Guys & VillainsNikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-61800902137387902772009-01-24T18:36:00.001-08:002009-01-24T18:36:53.982-08:00This Blog Content Has Been Moved - Update Below<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This blog has been moved along with quite a few other blogs. The complete list of my promotional blogs and the links are listed below. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update January 23, 2009 -</span> I have made some major changes to the blogs I'm offering and I am updating this list to reflect those changes. These changes should make it easier to find information and give additional exposure to every one who submits information about their books and themselves. <br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: arial;">ANY published author is welcome to submit these questions and answers to promote their books. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >To use any of these blogs - click on the link, click on "how to submit" in the top corner of the blog and follow the instructions. I ask that you send the questions and answers as an RTF file. It is also good to send a jpg file of your book cover - no PDF files for the cover art. When you complete the interview, send to nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com with the interview title in the subject line and I will add you to the list for that blog.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >I have divided the blog lists for fiction and non fiction books to make it easier to find the ones you need. I've added several new blogs lately - so if you've been here before - there are some new options.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >Two quick updates -</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >The print edition of Book Promo 101 is complete and available. The print book is oversize 8" x 10" and the layout is gorgeous. The manuscript for Book Promo 201: Promote Online With Web 2.0 is with my publisher and will be available in early 2009 -- there will be updates posted. If you would like details about the contents of this book, visit <a href="http://www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_201.htm">http://www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_201.htm</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >I offer a wide array of promotional services to authors. Feel free to take a look at the possibilities and contact me with questions. If you are interested in something that you don't see listed, let me know and we can talk. For a list of these services visit - </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm">www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >I offer a wide assortment of virtual book tour options and the current list is located at </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/04/virtual-blog-tour-options.html">http://virtualblogtour.blogspot.com/2008/04/virtual-blog-tour-options.html</a><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" > - there are a number of options and price ranges or we can talk about other options. I'm also planning to add more services in late winter and early spring 2009. If you would like to be added to my mailing list to get the latest updates, send me a message at nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com</span><br /><br /> </span> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="BookPromo101Char"><b>Promotional Blogs for Fiction Books</b></span><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:11;" ><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><!--[endif]--></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> Share your furry writing companions - <a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com</a><br />How to Submit - <a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-submit-information-about-author.html">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-submit-information-about-author.html</a><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><a href="http://itsallinthesetting.blogspot.com/"><span style="">http://itsallinthesetting.blogspot.com</span></a>/ - Details about story setting.<br />How to Submit – </span><span style=""><a href="http://itsallinthesetting.blogspot.com/2007/07/its-all-about-setting.htm"><span style="">http://itsallinthesetting.blogspot.com/2007/07/its-all-about-setting.htm</span></a></span><span style="">l<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:12;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:12;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Animals in Your Book - <a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:12;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">How to Submit - <a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-submit-your-book.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-submit-your-book.html</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">Villains in your book.- <a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com</a><br />How to Submit – </span><a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit_7729.html">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit_7729.html</a><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">Heroine in your book.- </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> <a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com</a></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">How to Submit - <a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit_134.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit_134.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">Hero in your book.- </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> <a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com</a></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">How to Submit - <a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit.html">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit.html</a></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">Best Friend - </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> <a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com</a></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">How to Submit - <a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit_28.html">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit_28.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">Share Book Details - <a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com</a><br />How to Submit – <a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2007/09/how-to-submit.html" title="http://startwithfacts.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit.html"><span style="">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2007/09/how-to-submit.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><a href="http://frombookstomovies.blogspot.com/"><span style="">http://frombookstomovies.blogspot.com</span></a>/ - From Books to the Movies<br />If a movie was made about your book, which actors and actresses would play the main characters? This is your chance in case a movie of your book and it can be a lot of fun.<br />How to Submit – <a href="http://frombookstomovies.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-to-submit.html" title="http://frombookstomovies.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-to-submit.html"><span style="">http://frombookstomovies.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-to-submit.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:12;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:12;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Interview a Male Character - </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> <a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com</a></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:12;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">How to Submit - <a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2007/11/how-to-submit_6392.html">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2007/11/how-to-submit_6392.html</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:12;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:100%;" > Interview a Female Character - </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> <a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com</a></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><span style="font-size:100%;">How to Submit - <a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2007/11/how-to-submit_1859.html">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2007/11/how-to-submit_1859.htm</a></span></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">In Detail With Nikki Leigh - <a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com</a><br />Give potential readers more information about you and your background.<br />How to Submit – <a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2007/09/how-to-submit.html">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2007/09/how-to-submit.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">Before I Was Published - </span><a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/"><span style="">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com</span></a><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">Tell us about what you did before you were published and especially include anything that relates to your books and your writing.<br />How to Submit - <a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2008/02/tell-us-your-story.html">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2008/02/tell-us-your-story.html</a><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><a href="http://currenteventsinbooks.blogspot.com/">http://currenteventsinbooks.blogspot.com</a>/- Can you tie a topic or element from your book with current events? This is the place to submit them. Send them to me and I'll review them.<br />How to Submit - <a href="http://currenteventsinbooks.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-submit.html">http://currenteventsinbooks.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-submit.html</a><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> Do you have interesting promotional ideas and suggestions that you would like to share with other authors? <a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">How to Submit - <a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-submit-your-promotional.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-submit-your-promotional.html</span></a><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><a href="http://judgebookbycover.blogspot.com/"><span style="">http://judgebookbycover.blogspot.com</span></a>/ - Share your book cover.<br />How to Submit – </span><span style=""><a href="http://judgebookbycover.blogspot.com/2007/07/judge-book-by-its-cover.html"><span style="">http://judgebookbycover.blogspot.com/2007/07/judge-book-by-its-cover.html</span></a></span><span style=""><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><a href="http://startatbeginning.blogspot.com/"><span style="">http://startatbeginning.blogspot.com</span></a>/ - Share your First Chapter<br />How to Submit – <a href="http://startatbeginning.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit.html" title="http://startatbeginning.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit.html"><span style="">http://startatbeginning.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><br /></span><span class="BookPromo201Char"><b><span style="">Promotional Blogs for Non-Fiction Books<br /></span></b></span><span style=""><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">Share Book Details - </span><span style=""><a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com</a><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">How to Submit – </span><span style=""><a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2007/09/how-to-submit.html" title="http://startwithfacts.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit.html"><span style="">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2007/09/how-to-submit.html</span></a></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:12;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:12;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">Share your furry writing companions - </span><span style=""><a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com</a><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">How to Submit - </span><span style=""><a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-submit-information-about-author.html">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2009/01/how-to-submit-information-about-author.html</a></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:12;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Animals in Your Book - <a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/</a></span></span></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:12;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">How to Submit - <a href="http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-submit-your-book.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://fictionalcharactersindepth.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-submit-your-book.html</span></a></span></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">In Detail With Nikki Leigh - <a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com</a><br />Give potential readers more information about you and your background.<br />How to Submit – <a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2007/09/how-to-submit.html">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2007/09/how-to-submit.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="">Before I Was Published - </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/"><span style="">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com</span></a><br /> </span> <span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="">Tell us about what you did before you were published and especially include anything that relates to your books and your writing.<br />How to Submit - <a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2008/02/tell-us-your-story.html">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2008/02/tell-us-your-story.html</a></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://currenteventsinbooks.blogspot.com/">http://currenteventsinbooks.blogspot.com/</a>- Can you tie a topic or element from your book with current events? This is the place to submit them. Send them to me and I'll review them.</span> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:12;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">How to Submit</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">- <a href="http://currenteventsinbooks.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-submit.html"><span style="">http://currenteventsinbooks.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-submit.html</span></a><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="">Do you have interesting promotional ideas and suggestions that you would like to share with other authors? <a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></span> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">How to Submit - <a href="http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-submit-your-promotional.html"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://authorpromotion.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-submit-your-promotional.html</span></a></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:12;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://judgebookbycover.blogspot.com/"><span style="">http://judgebookbycover.blogspot.com</span></a>/ - Share your book cover.<br />How to Submit – </span><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://judgebookbycover.blogspot.com/2007/07/judge-book-by-its-cover.html"><span style="">http://judgebookbycover.blogspot.com/2007/07/judge-book-by-its-cover.html</span></a></span><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:12;" ><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-size:12;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://startatbeginning.blogspot.com/"><span style="">http://startatbeginning.blogspot.com</span></a>/ - Share your First Chapter</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">How to Submit – <a href="http://startatbeginning.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit.html" title="http://startatbeginning.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit.html"><span style="">http://startatbeginning.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-submit.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="line-height: 150%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="">I reserve the right to refuse to post any submissions, but so far I haven't needed to turn anyone away. I did edit a couple of first chapters to maintain a PG-13 rating for my visitors. That could be one of the reasons why some have such a long waiting list. All the blogs are listed on my Blogger profile which is located at - <a href="profile/00985309338453728557">www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><br />Nikki Leigh<br />Author of the Book Promo 101 Series<br /><a href="www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm">www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm</a><br />Author Promotional Services - <a href="http://www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm">www.nikkileigh.com/promo.htm</a></span>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-60255548272145764032008-12-28T17:19:00.000-08:002008-12-28T17:21:41.193-08:00Witch Hunts on the Internet by Yvonne Walus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/SVglntdp7lI/AAAAAAAACec/iNc-zPil3-Y/s1600-h/Witch+Hunts+on+Internet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/SVglntdp7lI/AAAAAAAACec/iNc-zPil3-Y/s400/Witch+Hunts+on+Internet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285015526868381266" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"><span class="390083602-07122008">Who causes friction is the story?</span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"><span class="390083602-07122008"></span></span> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"><span class="390083602-07122008">The villain in "Witch Hunts on the Internet" (Echelon Press, 2008) is a 40-year old man posing as a 16-year old in teenage chat rooms. He is chiefly after their photos (for his own nefarious purposes), but he wouldn't refuse a face-to-face meeting, either.</span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"><span class="390083602-07122008"></span></span> </div> <div><span class="390083602-07122008"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >Do you prefer <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1230513420_2">bad guys</span> or bad gals?</span></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span class="390083602-07122008"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">G<span class="390083602-07122008">enerally, I find bad guys are a lot more fun (e.g., Sawyer in LOST), but the one in "Witch Hunts on the Internet" is bad through and through. He's an example of a villain you truly despise.</span></span></div><span class="390083602-07122008"></span> <div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >How do you use your <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1230513420_3">bad guys</span>?</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span class="390083602-07122008"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Bad guys are like spices: too little makes a bland mix, too much is unpalatable. I try to aim for an interesting mix with enough conflict and pace... and, of course, a moral at the end of the story.</span></span></div> <div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"><span class="390083602-07122008">It's easier than writing good guys. Good guys are boring.</span></span></div> <div> </div> <div style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?</span></div> <div style="font-weight: bold;"> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"><span class="390083602-07122008">No matter whether your villain is a thief, a murderer or an abuser, the reason behind his personality makeup always fascinates me. What made him the way he is today? Why can't he change? Does he want to change? What are his secret dreams and hopes?</span></span></div> <div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;" >Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?</span></div> <div> </div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"><span class="390083602-07122008">I have a lot of sympathy for the Boss Out Of Hell in "Murder @ Work". It's honestly not his fault his temper is quicker than the speed of email transmission. And he is dead for most of the book, too!</span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"><span class="390083602-07122008"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.echelonpress.com/direct/buy-yw-maw.htm"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1230513420_4">http://www.echelonpress.com/direct/buy-yw-maw.htm</span></a></span></span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?</span></span></div> <div style="font-weight: bold;"> </div> <div><span class="390083602-07122008"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">S<span class="390083602-07122008">awyer from LOST... ok, I'm repeating myself here, but I do find him hot. That whole bad-boy-makes-good aura makes my toes curl! Of course, it could simply be that he looks like <span style="border-bottom: medium none; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1230513420_5">Josh Holloway</span>...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free to share.</span></span></div> <div> </div> <div><span class="390083602-07122008"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Sometimes the good guy (or gal) have to do things they are not too proud of in order to stop the villain. That's certainly the case in "Witch Hunts on the Internet", where the protagonist has to ask herself the following poignant question: "How far are you willing to go and what rules are you willing to break in order to protect your child?"</span></span></div> <div><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">Please provide your website link.</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: teal; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: maroon; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: teal; font-family: Verdana;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://yewalus.kiwiwebhost.net.nz/"><span style="color:#800080;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1230513420_6">http://yewalus.kiwiwebhost.net.nz</span></span></a></span></span></span><br /><br />What is the link to buy your book?</span></div> <div><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://echelonpress.netfirms.com/Echelon/nfoscomm/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=445&osCsid=dda12e13d4dfb931da8112d20306716e"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1230513420_7">http://echelonpress.netfirms.com/Echelon/nfoscomm/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=445&osCsid=dda12e13d4dfb931da8112d20306716e</span></a></span></div>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-84889411107921987852008-12-14T18:26:00.000-08:002008-12-14T18:27:39.226-08:00Friction in the Green Stone of Healing SeriesWe want to hear about the <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1229307934_1">bad guys</span>, bad gals and villains in your book. Even<br />if you don't have a murderer, thief or other "<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1229307934_2">bad guy</span>" there should be some<br />negative force.<br /><br />Who causes friction in the story?<br /><br />There are multiple causes of friction in my epic fantasy, Green Stone of<br />Healing(R) series.<br /><br />In the initial books, one source of discord between the heroine, Helen<br />Andros, and her newfound father is the distrust and hurt between the two.<br />They cannot tell each other that they love each other because both of them<br />have been so wounded by the seemingly inexplicable, secretive behavior of<br />Helen's mother.<br /><br />A second source of conflict is various political factions vying for power in<br />the vacuum created by the monarch's incapacity. Helen's father is a leader<br />of one of these factions, and those who oppose him jump all over the<br />revelation that he has an illegitimate, half-breed daughter in the hope of<br />tearing him down.<br /><br />Conflict that develops as the series progresses includes war between Azgard<br />and other nations, as well as civil war within Azgard between varying<br />political factions.<br /><br />There is also a lot of personal conflict between wives and husbands, parents<br />and children, siblings and cousins, even lovers. Think of the characters as<br />members of one very large, extended dysfunctional family whose business<br />happens to be running the most powerful, wealthiest nation in their world.<br /><br /><br />Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?<br /><br />I don't prefer either group. Each plays a role in the kind of <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1229307934_3">genre fiction</span><br />I write.<br /><br /><br />How do you use your bad guys?<br /><br />Without the villains, it's much tougher to perceive or appreciate the good.<br />I use the contrast in motives and actions to delineate the differences<br />between the characters' character, bad and good.<br /><br />The bad guys/gals also make a storyline much more interesting. Multiple<br />villains throughout the series are convinced that they should rule the<br />island nation where the story is set, and some want to impose the law of<br />Azgard on the entire world. The villains are always plotting some way to<br />steal power/influence and/or money in my series. Never a dull moment.<br /><br />Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?<br /><br />It is not difficult at all to write about the bad guys/gals. Sometimes it<br />gets disgusting when they pull of their dastardly deeds or cause havoc and<br />pain in their attempts. But the bad guys and gals are an integral part of<br />the story and cannot be airbrushed out just because they are often<br />unpalatable.<br /><br /><br />Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why<br />you feel that way.<br /><br />As I have noted, villains provide character contrast and propel the plot<br />with their antics. They also provide what I'll call depth and texture for<br />lack of a better descriptor. A story without a villain-or at least without a<br />good guy/gal who makes mistakes-is monotone at best.<br /><br /><br />Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which<br />book are they in?<br /><br />There are so many bad guys in just the first three books of my epic fantasy<br />series that I hardly know where to begin. But two of the slimy devils come<br />to mind right away. The first is the heroine's second cousin on her father's<br />side of the family. His name is Griffin Mordecai. He would be far more<br />effectively evil if he had the brain power to realize his intellectual<br />limitations. Translation: Griffin is dumb as a stump but he has <span style="border-bottom: medium none; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1229307934_4">friends in<br />high places</span> who keep promoting him way beyond his capacity. The second<br />villain is a member of the Brotherhood of Kronos named Lucan Silenas. The<br />extent of this priest's evil will not become known until much later in the<br />series. For now he seems to have the goods on every one of his fellow<br />priests and is plotting to do away with his boss so he can become Supreme<br />Lord of the Temple of Kronos. From there, his ambition will know no bounds<br />or scruple. He is totally amoral in his quest for ultimate power.<br /><br /><br />Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?<br /><br />Baron Vladimir Harkonnen in the Dune franchise. He's over the top as a <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1229307934_5">bad<br />guy</span> and wonderfully fun to read about. I'm not quite sure whether <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1229307934_6">Frank<br />Herbert</span> took him seriously or meant him as satire (maybe a bit of both), but<br />the baron is a most engaging villain who is unabashedly pleased with his<br />evil ways and means. It's always good to enjoy one's avocation, however<br />nasty it might be.<br /><br /><br />Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free<br />to share.<br /><br />One of my bad guys is truly a vile piece of work. He becomes the<br />first-generation heroine's father-in-law and proves to be her <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1229307934_7">worst enemy</span>.<br />He almost destroys her soul. Others are the way they are due to their own<br />emotional and spiritual wounds and limitations. I try to set their villainy<br />in context and provide some explanations, even if it takes a few books to do<br />so.<br /><br /><br />Please provide your website link.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.greenstoneofhealing.com/" target="_blank">http://www.greenstoneofhealing.com</a><br /><br />What are the links to buy your books?<br /><br />eBooks: <a href="http://www.healingstonebooks.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1229307934_8">http://www.healingstonebooks.com</span></a><br /><br />Paperbacks:<br /><br /><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1229307934_9">The Scorpions</span> Strike-Green Stone of Healing(R) Series, Book Three<br /><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780980053753" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1229307934_10">http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780980053753</span></a><br /><br />Fallout-Green Stone of Healing(R) Series, Book Two<br /><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780980053746" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1229307934_11">http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780980053746</span></a><br /><br />The Vision-Green Stone of Healing(R) Series, Book One<br /><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780980053739" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1229307934_12">http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780980053739</span></a>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-80764185782498977772008-10-16T19:42:00.000-07:002008-10-16T19:47:18.293-07:00Forever Tonight by Tarra Newlands<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/SPf8HYXzXOI/AAAAAAAACNg/ClKzscOxhx4/s1600-h/ForeverTonight.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257948293709913314" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/SPf8HYXzXOI/AAAAAAAACNg/ClKzscOxhx4/s320/ForeverTonight.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Who causes friction is the story? </div><br /><div></div><div>Theodore who is a bad ass alien with attitude.</div><br /><div></div><div>Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals? </div><br /><div></div><div>I like write bad guys and girls at times. I think its a release for the shadow self we all sometimes have. </div><div></div><br /><div>How do you use your bad guys?</div><div></div><br /><div>In my books, I use bad guys different ways. In my first book the Dream King, Jonathan whose the bad guy is also a man flawed and looking for redemption. In Forever Tonight, I painted Theodore as a soul less creature who would kill you as soon look at you. </div><div></div><br /><div>Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?</div><br /><div></div><div>I find it hard at times, but then my shadow self pitches in. Its the old saying 'meet a jerk get to work'. </div><br /><div></div><div>Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?</div><br /><div></div><div>I think writing bad guys is a release from acceptable behaviour. </div><br /><div></div><div>Who is your favourite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?</div><br /><div></div><div>I like Jonathan in The Dream King. He's bad, but with a reason and searching for a way to redeem himself. </div><div></div><br /><div>Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free to share.</div><br /><div></div><div>Bad guys can be sexy, but dangerous. Look, but don't touch. LOL </div><br /><div></div><div>Please provide your website link.</div><br /><div></div><div><a target="_blank" href="http://www.authorsden.com/taranewlands">http://www.authorsden.com/taranewlands</a> or <a target="_blank" href="http://www.myspace.com/taranewlands">http://www.myspace.com/taranewlands</a> </div><br /><div></div><div>What is the link to buy your book?</div><br /><div></div><div><a target="_blank" href="http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/product_info.php?cPath=23_73&products_id=187">http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/product_info.php?cPath=23_73&products_id=187</a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook70906.htm?cache">http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook70906.htm?cache</a></div>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-87049932239995917262008-09-02T07:17:00.000-07:002008-09-02T07:21:42.322-07:00The Villain from Hunting the Egret<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/SL1LP9fIh4I/AAAAAAAABjA/HU_LItbjoeA/s1600-h/huntingtheegret.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/SL1LP9fIh4I/AAAAAAAABjA/HU_LItbjoeA/s320/huntingtheegret.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241428278904391554" border="0" /></a><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Who causes friction in the story? Without wanting to give away too much of the plot, there’s a very sadistic and controlling former lover on the loose.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals? I’ve said in previous contributions to this blog that gender matters less to me than convincing motivation. I try to give my villains a bit of depth, but this one is, admittedly, just a bit of a psycho.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">How do you use your bad guys? In this tale, one of the characters has a history of being abused, and of willingly submitting to it. It’s by confronting the violent former lover that they are able to move away from that very damaging past.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult? I enjoy it – if I didn’t enjoy it I wouldn’t be doing it. The trouble is, I’m far too good at it. The villain in ‘Hunting the egret’ is a truly horrible piece of work. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way? Probably says far too much about me – but I figure it’s better to write it than do it. I’m probably safer to be around for getting to turn my demons into stories. I have a very dark imagination, I’m capable of a lot of rage and righteous indignation, and worse. This way I get to vent it all and no one gets hurt.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Who is your favourite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in? Gardar in ‘On Borrowed Wings’ remains my favourite. He’s a singularly selfish and egotistical person, capable of making people fall in love with him even while he’s doing dreadful things to them. That said – this new villain has a certain something – the amorality, and again the selfishness and the unshakeable self confidence. One of the features of my bad guys is that they do tend to think they’re wonderful people and they don’t doubt themselves.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books? I remain very fond of Severus Snape from the Harry Potter books (although his status as a bad guy is complicated.) ‘Rebecca’ from Du Maurier’s book is an awesome villainess. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free to share. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">When I was working on ‘Hunting the Egret’ I consulted with BDSM author JJ Giles as to what kinds of things would be considered unacceptable behaviour by people in that community. She told me. What I’ve written in this book is very much not what most Doms would consider doing. This villain is a sadist and an abuser and not a representation of BDSM lifestyle.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">Please provide your website link. <a href="http://www.brynneth.org.uk">http://www.brynneth.org.uk</a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">What is the link to buy your book? <a href="http://www.loveyoudivine.com/index.php?main_page=document_product_info&cPath=28&products_id=337&zenid=e8fb5f33a911b999e381b72512589bd7">http://www.loveyoudivine.com/index.php?main_page=document_product_info&cPath=28&products_id=337&zenid=e8fb5f33a911b999e381b72512589bd7</a></span></p>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-60919068520875693382008-06-23T23:48:00.000-07:002008-06-23T23:48:00.793-07:00Meet Duke Ernesto of Savona -- Bloodstone Castle by Mirella Patzer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/SFlWuE0RLbI/AAAAAAAABOw/XfGu88qMWTE/s1600-h/Mirella+Banner+-+5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/SFlWuE0RLbI/AAAAAAAABOw/XfGu88qMWTE/s320/Mirella+Banner+-+5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213293393225002418" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who causes friction is the story?</span><o:p></o:p></span></span> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA">I have two antagonists in my novel, Bloodstone Castle.<span style=""> </span>The main villain is Duke Ernesto of Savona.<span style=""> </span>He is a gambler who has lost his family’s wealth and becomes desperate to replenish his diminished coffers.<span style=""> </span>He sets his hopes on the Contessa Morena of Portovenere to get his hands on the ancient buried treasure beneath her castle.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA">Laria Malacresta is also an antagonist.<span style=""> </span>She is in love with Duke Amoro of Genoa, but the Duke is bound by an oath to marry Contessa Morena.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA">I have no real preference regarding the sex of the antagonist.<span style=""> </span>I just want them to be three dimensional and to shock me somehow.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-weight: bold;">How do you use your bad guys?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA">I use my antagonists to add tension to the plot and to really make the black moment as dark and hopeless as it can be.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA">I find writing the bad guys rather easy because I can really push things to the limit.<span style=""> </span>For some reason, I fell less restricted – I can make them really hateful because readers want them to be bad.<span style=""> </span>Whereas writing the hero or heroine, you have to tread carefully to ensure they remain likeable or they don’t offend in any way.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA">I love writing bad guys.<span style=""> </span>I hate to admit it, but sometimes in our lives, we’ve all met someone who has wronged us or someone we love.<span style=""> </span>Often, my villains end up looking exactly like them or taking on their characteristics. It seems to take away some of my frustration.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA">I love Duke Ernesto of Savona in Bloodstone Castle because he is so very evil that he was pure fun to write about.<span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA">But the most interesting villain I am writing about is a real historical figure in my new novel A Crimson Mantle and in its sequel Lance of Destiny.<span style=""> </span>His name is Thankmar and he is very three dimensional – part victim of circumstance, part thwarted son, part evil schemer.<span style=""> </span>My critiquers sympathize with his plight and have grown very fond of him.<span style=""> </span>My concern is that they seem to like him more than my hero, so I have more work ahead of me to rectify this.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA">My favourite bad guy is Vito Corleone in the Godfather series. <span style=""> </span>One just loves to hate him – when he is good he is very good but when he is bad, well he is pure hatefulness.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free to share.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA">Laria Malacresta also in Bloodstone Castle is a favourite villainess of mine.<span style=""> </span>She pulls some really despicable stunts, but readers can also sympathize with her because she is a victim of her circumstances.<span style=""><br /></span></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Visit <a href="http://bloodstonecastle.blogspot.com">http://bloodstonecastle.blogspot.com</a> <span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-size:100%;">for a complete photo gallery and description of the characters in the novel.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please provide your website link.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA">http://www.mirellapatzer.com<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> What is the link to buy your book?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.mirellapatzer.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">http://www.mirellapatzer.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://mirellapatzer.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">http://mirellapatzer.blogspot.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://bloodstonecastle.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">http://bloodstonecastle.blogspot.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://bestofitaly.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">http://bestofitaly.blogspot.com</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA">Or on Amazon at:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; line-height: 18pt; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bloodstone-Castle-Mirella-Patzer/dp/0978486528/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209682406&sr=8-1"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">http://www.amazon.com/Bloodstone-Castle-Mirella-Patzer/dp/0978486528/</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";" lang="EN-CA"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Thank you for telling us about your bad guys. We love to meet the "evil ones".</span></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We encourage you to post a comment on each tour stop for Mirella's tour. At the end of the tour, she will be giving away an autographed copy to one person who posts a comment during the tour. Will you be the one who wins?</span>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-91385699172846785542008-05-31T20:10:00.000-07:002008-05-31T20:11:54.460-07:00Jim Musgrave Talks About His Bad Guys<div>Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?</div> <div> </div> <div>I prefer bad guys, as through research I've discovered there are simply more of them, especially the more heinous types--my favorite variety of bad guy!<br /><br />How do you use your bad guys?</div> <div> </div> <div>In my novel, <em>Russian Wolves</em>, the worst guy is named and patterned after real-life serial killer, Andrei Romanovich Chikatilo, the Rostov Slayer. However, the fictional detective who hunts him also gets drawn over to the "dark side," which makes this novel a totally "bad guy work," giving it an especially creepy quality.</div> <div> </div> <div>In my horror novel, <em>Lucifer's Wedding</em>, I chose the perpetual bad guy, and in my political thriller, <em>Sins of Darkness</em>, I chose a collection of bad guys who make up a brainwashing group that programs Sirhan Bishara Sirhan to kill Robert F. Kennedy in 1968.<br /><br />Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?</div> <div> </div> <div>Because I "cut my reading teeth" on authors such as Thomas Harris (<em>Silence of the Lambs</em>), I learned that writing about bad guys was a talent unto itself. When one reader I did not know said that my Chikatilo was the "most depraved and horrible character she had ever read about," I knew I was on the right track. <br /><br />Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?</div> <div> </div> <div>I enjoy writing about them because I am very Freudian, and I believe we have a secret "death wish." Bad guys just fascinate our inner cravings.<br /><br />Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?</div> <div> </div> <div>Andrei Chikatilo is my favorite because I like to think I gave him "redeeming qualities" that he lacked in his real life's history. Isn't this what made Dr. Hannibal Lecter so appealing?<br /><br />Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?</div> <div> </div> <div>Dr. Lecter.<br /><br />Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free to share.</div> <div> </div> <div>My bad guys have a dark sense of humor (what else?).<br /><br />Please provide your website link.</div> <div> </div> <div><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.contempinstruct.com/books/books.htm">http://www.contempinstruct.com/books/books.htm</a><br /><br />What is the link to buy your book?</div> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/Russian-Wolves-James-Ray-Musgrave/dp/0977650316/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209569459&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.com/Russian-Wolves-James-Ray-Musgrave/dp/0977650316/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209569459&sr=8-1</a>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-7299184007685260652008-05-11T16:03:00.000-07:002008-05-11T16:04:29.736-07:00Western Romance by Paty JagerWe want to hear about the bad guys, bad gals and villains in your book. Even if you don't have a murderer, thief or other "bad guy" there should be some negative force.<br /><br />Who causes friction is the story? The friction in my story is several factors. One is a father who left behind an adoring daughter who grew up believing no matter how much you love someone they leave. So she plans to keep never give her heart again. This is the friction between the hero who has set his heart on this woman and the woman fighting her attraction to him. There are also a band of outlaws. Some just followers and others deranged.<br /><br />Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals? I prefer any element that can make the reader wonder how will these people ever get together with all that is happening.<br /><br />How do you use your bad guys? I use my bad guys to help the lead roles discover who they really are. And it adds action to the books not mention a little bit of humor now and then when you add bumbling bad guys.<br /><br />Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult? The bad guys are actually fun to write. I always give one of them a trait that is a little endearing, yet make one be so loathsome or disgusting the reader can't help but boo or curl their lip when the character comes on the scene.<br /><br />Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way? The world is full of bad people or bad things that happen to people. You can't write a book without adding that bit of the real world into the equation. If you don't have bad people or an unsettling event in a book it is too Pollyanna and the reader isn't going to believe the other characters of the story you are telling.<br /><br />Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in? I'd have to say my favorite bad buy is Ezra Cutter in "Outlaw in Petticoats". He is slick and tries to be charismatic while holding the heroine hostage.<br /><br />Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books? That's a tough one. I don't think I've read a book where the bad guy was so memorable that I could name him or the book. But then I tend to read contemporary single title and historical westerns. I rarely read a suspense. I get scared too easily! LOL<br /><br />Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free to share. As in the real world most bad guys aren't too smart. And since I've so far not got into the head to a really deranged bad guy, I've made them all just a little bit bumbling, letting the reader know they will be caught because they aren't quite smart enough to get away with everything they plot.<br /><br />Please provide your website link. <a rel="nofollow" class="moz-txt-link-freetext" target="_blank" href="http://www.patyjager.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1210546922_0">http://www.patyjager.com</span></a><br /><br />What is the link to buy your book? <a rel="nofollow" class="moz-txt-link-freetext" target="_blank" href="http://www.thewildrosepress.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1210546922_1">http://www.thewildrosepress.com</span></a><br /><br />Thank you for telling us about your bad guys. We love to meet the "evil ones".Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-31338185542222050442008-04-13T15:36:00.000-07:002008-04-13T15:40:15.889-07:00Sinbad's Last Voyage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/SAKLp_oZ-II/AAAAAAAAA-s/_YTfEMIocCA/s1600-h/sinbad-510.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/SAKLp_oZ-II/AAAAAAAAA-s/_YTfEMIocCA/s320/sinbad-510.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188863274256038018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">Tell us about the villains in your book.</span> <p><i><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">We want to hear about the bad guys, bad gals and villains in your book. Even if you don't have a murderer, thief or other "bad guy" there should be some negative force.<br /><br />Who causes friction is the story? </span></span></i></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">There are three negative forces in the book:<span style=""> </span>The first are the Albegensians who attack a deep-space freighter and destroy it, starting a war with Terra, thus setting the backdrop for the story.<span style=""> </span>The second is the Federation itself, which has a habit of<span style=""> </span>incarcerating anyone with an opinion contrary to theirs.<span style=""> </span>The third is Andrea's husband Tran, the reason she meets Sinbad.<span style=""> </span>Tran is an Albegensi and has been arrested simply because he's a member of the planet which attacked the Terran vessel, arbitrarily accused of being a spy.<br /><br /><i>Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?</i></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">I've written about both and I've made them as mean and evil as I can!<span style=""> </span>It's fun to have someone who can say and do the things one might have always wanted to but society says one can't because of retribution.<br /><br /><i>How do you use your bad guys?</i></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">In this case, Tran doesn't appear to be a "bad guy" at first.<span style=""> </span>He's simply an innocent victim who was from the wrong place at the wrong time.<span style=""> </span>It's only when he escapes from Detention and leaves the planet and ignores Sinbad's messages to wait so he can bring Andi to him that things become suspicious.<span style=""> </span>The fact that he's heading toward a planet known to be a hereditary enemy of his own people is strange, also.<span style=""> </span>He brings about Andi's meeting with the man who'll change her life forever, as well as Sin's meeting with the woman who'll make him see that all Terrans aren't to be hated.<br /><br /><i>Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?</i></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">It was fun!<br /><br /><i>Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?</i></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">My villains can say and do what they want, to whoever they want, whenever they want.<span style=""> </span>I'd never do anything like that, but it's fun to pretend for a little while that I'm someone who can.<span style=""> </span>Of course, they always get their "come-uppance" in the end, but it's a great ride while it lasts!<br /><br /><i>Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?</i> </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">I guess I'd have to say Mircea Ravagui in my unpublished novel <i>Shadow Lord</i>.<span style=""> </span>Not only does Mircea get away with murdering Marek Strigoi's father, stepmother, little brother and sister, but he manages to get the hero sent to Hell for a hundred and twenty-five years!</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">I'd have to say Blackie Duquesne from the Skylark of Space by "Doc" Smith.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;">Please provide your website link.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.tonivsweeney.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1208126153_1">Www.tonivsweeney.com</span></a></span></p> <p><i><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">What is the link to buy your book?</span></span></i></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.lulu.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1208126153_2">www.lulu.com</span></a>; <a target="_blank" href="http://www.doubledradonbooks.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1208126153_3">www.doubledradonbooks.com</span></a><br /><br /><i>Thank you for telling us about your bad guys. We love to meet the "evil ones".</i></span></span></p>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-4818030625813372932008-03-23T19:18:00.001-07:002008-03-23T19:19:25.018-07:00Under Lock and Key by Rebecca Benston<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/R-cPjjtbUmI/AAAAAAAAA5o/DVaLYoOov0U/s1600-h/UnderLockKey.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/R-cPjjtbUmI/AAAAAAAAA5o/DVaLYoOov0U/s320/UnderLockKey.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181126999868658274" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Who causes friction in the story? In my Rona Shively Stories mystery series, my main character, Rona Shively causes a lot of her own friction. She just gets into things that spell trouble. Generally, though, I try to make the villain someone the reader would never suspect. As in the first book, many people were surprised to find that the bad guy was...well...I can't really say. That kind of gives it away for those who haven't read it. In Under Lock and Key, I pulled a major switch with one of the main characters as well.<br /><br />Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals? I don't know why, but my villains tend to run in pairs. Usually, a man and a woman are the perpetrators of evil.<br /><br />How do you use your bad guys? My bad guys are usually causing trouble for some poor, unsuspecting soul. Rona Shively is that equalizing force brought in to help the underdog out of some terrible circumstance.<br /><br />Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult? I like writing them, but I really like writing their demise. It makes me happy to see the bad guy get punched in the nose or something equally painful.<br /><br />Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way? I don't know, maybe it's because my bad guys tend to have some of the qualities that really cause me stress. Some are a composite of the people in my life who have caused me a significant level of grief. So, I guess it's my way of inflicting a harmless dose of revenge.<br /><br />Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in? I enjoy my first villain the most because he was such a jerk. You really never saw it coming because you already hate him when you figure it out. He starts out as a creep, almost becomes likable and then you realize that your first instinct was the one you should have trusted.<br /><br />Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books? One of my favorites has been Kyle Craig in the <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1206325058_0">James Patterson</span>'s Cross series. He just doesn't care who he kills. He's so sinister.<br /><br />Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Sometimes, people are just bad. It's not likely that any of my bad guys are just having a bad day, they're usually significantly flawed and will deserve whatever Rona might do to them to bring them down. I hope you enjoy watching things unfold.<br /><br />Please provide your website link. <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.theronashivelystories.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1206325058_1">http://www.theronashivelystories.com</span></a></div> <div><br />What is the link to buy your book? <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.theronashivelystories.com/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1206325058_2">http://www.theronashivelystories.com</span></a></div>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-14282093138077109552008-02-21T08:25:00.001-08:002008-02-21T08:25:39.677-08:00Cover of the Year - Asking for Your VoteI just scanned the covers for Cover of the Year on Erin Aislinn's website and saw a lot of familiar covers - many were on my Judge A Book By its Cover blog last year :)<br /><br />I invite you to visit <a href="http://www.erinaislinn.com/BookCoveroftheYear2007.htm">http://www.erinaislinn.com/BookCoveroftheYear2007.htm</a> and I hope that you will vote for Lady Lightkeeper which is one of my covers and it is listed as the winning cover for September.<br /><br />If you prefer the easier route - feel free to email webmail@erinaislinn .com and put "VOTE for Lady Lightkeeper" in the subject line. I appreciate every vote :)<br /><br />Nikki<br /><br /><br />Book Promo 101 - NOW AVAILABLE<br /><a href="http://www.nikkileigh.%20com/book_%20promo_101.%20htm">www.nikkileigh. com/book_ promo_101. htm</a><br />"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"<br />Would you like information about the newest<br />blog tour option? Ask me for details and visit<br /><a href="http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion">www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion</a>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-66268831928125861422007-12-28T09:00:00.000-08:002007-12-28T09:03:30.375-08:00Silk Palace by Colin Harvey<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/R3UsP2r9iEI/AAAAAAAAAqA/8iAzj06qrHg/s1600-h/The+Silk+Palace.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/R3UsP2r9iEI/AAAAAAAAAqA/8iAzj06qrHg/s320/The+Silk+Palace.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149070399857592386" border="0" /></a><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"><i style=""><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Who causes friction in the story? </span></span></i></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">The plotters and the Royal Family that they’re plotting against – pretty much everyone is rubbing up against one another and getting up each other’s noses!<br /><br /><i style="">Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?</i></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Oh, bad girls every time! Oh, sorry, are we talking about writing here? <g> Being serious, I don’t see any difference between the two. I’ll use bad guys or girls as the occasion arises.<br /><br /><i style="">How do you use your bad guys?</i></g></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Often to provide a mirror to the hero, to highlight a view of him or her that we wouldn’t otherwise get.<br /><br /><i style="">Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?</i></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">I find it quite difficult, but I hope that I’m getting better at it. My first baddie was almost a mustache-twirling villain, but as I’ve gone along I’ve tried more and more to portray them as flawed, or as ordinary people who make bad choices.<br /><br /><i style="">Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?</i></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Because one-dimensional villains are basically <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1198861277_1">Hollywood</span> ; they reduce the challenge to the hero, which reduces the effect of his or her victory. Without sacrifice, the victory is meaningless.<br /><br /><i style="">Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?</i></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Arial from <i style="">The Silk Palace</i>; his only real sin is to be over-ambitious, and to think that he can control an elemental force. But that lack of sin doesn’t mask the terrible consequences of what he does.<br /><br /><em>Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?</em></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Verdana;" >Alfred Bester’s Gulliver Foyle, from <i style="">The Stars My Destination</i> (I grew up knowing it as <i style="">Tiger! Tiger!</i>) – the ultimate anti-hero.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(71, 75, 78);font-family:Helvetica;" >Please provide your website link.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="color: rgb(71, 75, 78);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:10;" ><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.geocities.com/colin_harvey/TheSilkPalace.html"><span style="font-size:12;">http://www.geocities.com/colin_harvey/TheSilkPalace.html</span></a></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="color: rgb(71, 75, 78);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:10;" ><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(71, 75, 78);font-family:Helvetica;" >What is the link to buy your book?</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(71, 75, 78);font-family:Helvetica;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(71, 75, 78);font-family:Helvetica;" >In the <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1198861277_2">USA</span> ; </span><span style="color: rgb(71, 75, 78);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:10;" ><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/Silk-Palace-Colin-Harvey/dp/1934041424/ref=sr_1_1/103-3811783-1271041?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193587154&sr=1-1"><span style="font-size:12;">http://www.amazon.com/Silk-Palace-Colin-Harvey/dp/1934041424/ref=sr_1_1/103-3811783-1271041?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193587154&sr=1-1</span></a></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(71, 75, 78);font-family:Helvetica;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ></span></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(71, 75, 78);font-family:Helvetica;" >In the UK ; </span><span style="color: rgb(71, 75, 78);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:10;" ><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silk-Palace-Colin-Harvey/dp/1934041424/ref=sr_1_1/203-2993755-7182356?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193586998&sr=8-1"><span style="font-size:12;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silk-Palace-Colin-Harvey/dp/1934041424/ref=sr_1_1/203-2993755-7182356?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193586998&sr=8-1</span></a></span></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(71, 75, 78);font-family:Helvetica;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ></span></span></div> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(71, 75, 78);font-family:Helvetica;" >Or electronically: </span><span style="color: rgb(71, 75, 78);font-family:Helvetica;font-size:10;" ><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook51966.htm?cached"><span style="font-size:12;">http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/eBook51966.htm?cached</span></a></span></span>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-41187787051141751822007-12-05T18:42:00.001-08:002007-12-05T18:42:35.064-08:00Blog Tours - What Would You Like to Know<p>I'm doing a tele-seminar next week about blog tours and I would love input from you all.<br /><br />There are many things to discuss about blog tours and I worked out some initial questions to get people thinking - they are:</p> <div>Discover Ways to Promote Your Book on a Virtual Blog Tour to Gain Greater Visibility and Sales</div> <div><br /><ul><li>What are the benefits of doing a blog tour?</li></ul> </div> <div> <ul><li>Should you promote your book in a blog tour?</li></ul> </div> <div> <ul><li>Should fiction and non fiction books be promoted differently in a blog tour?</li></ul> </div> <div> <ul><li>Should you organize your own blog tour?</li></ul> </div> <div> <ul><li>Why hire a publicist to organize your tour?</li></ul> </div> <div> <ul><li>If you hire a publicist, will you still need to work on the tour?</li></ul> </div> <div> <ul><li>Can you use a blog tour to promote anything besides books?</li></ul> </div> <div> <ul><li>Is there a new option in book blog tours?</li></ul> </div> <p>But, now I need to create a couple of handouts and I'd love your input. Is there any specific info about blog tours that any of you think would be most helpful? Some folks here have done tours, some have hosted touring authors and I bet some of you have thought about doing a tour. So, since many of the people here are authors, I figured it would be a great place to pose the question. What information would you suggest I offer in handouts? Thank you all for your thoughts. There will be plenty of blog tour info coming very soon .<br /><br />Nikki Leigh</p> <p>PS - The answer to the last question is - most definitely. Stay tuned for much more information about that option - SOON. Or, contact me to be added to the mailing list - nikki_leigh22939@yahoo.com with Mailing List in the subject line. <br /></p>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-44703179902862867342007-10-14T13:09:00.000-07:002007-10-14T13:12:24.636-07:00The Last Free Men - by Jack Everett & David Coles<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/RxJ4ANTeKvI/AAAAAAAAAcs/44txTiVtloo/s1600-h/Last+Free+Men.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/RxJ4ANTeKvI/AAAAAAAAAcs/44txTiVtloo/s320/Last+Free+Men.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121287671240338162" /></a><br />The Last Free Men - by Jack Everett & David Coles <br /><br />We want to hear about the bad guys, bad gals and villains in your book. Even if you don't have a murderer, thief or other "bad guy" there should be some negative force. <br /><br />Who causes friction in the story? <br /><br />Iavolina. She is the wife of the Commandant of Fort Throp, a real fort close to Hadrian's Wall which, almost two thousand years ago separated Scotland from Britain. Iavolina is a spoiled Roman girl who, we can surmise married her ageing husband Septimus as a way to family money. Unfortunately, she had not reckoned with life on Rome's North West frontier; she took lovers and since her latest seemed too good to miss, she left the provincial little marching fort. After causing a great deal of mayhem - all of which furthered the story - she makes a totally undeserved fete.<br /><br />Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals? <br /><br />No preference<br /><br />How do you use your bad guys? <br /><br />To add conflict to the story, to add another thread, to give an alternative viewpoint.<br /><br />Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult? <br /><br />Yes, we enjoy it.<br /><br />Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way? <br /><br />Creating an evil character or even a merely bad individual is a challenge because the narrative still has to be enjoyable as well as gripping the reader and making her want to continue When it comes out right, the effort is really worthwhile.<br /><br />Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in? <br /><br />Our favourite bad guy is called Calupsis; he is the leader of what is left of King Arthur's Knights after chivalry has been entirely forgotten. He is pretty horrible. Calupsis appears in the young adult's fantasy novel Merlin's Kin, available as an eBook from Mobipocket.com. (A few paperbacks are still available … email us from our websites.)<br /><br />Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books? <br /><br />Undoubtedly this is the anti-hero Cugel in Jack Vance's “Dying Earth” fantasy books: “the Eyes of the Overworld” and “Cugel's Saga”.<br /><br />Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free to share <br /><br />As good guys are not wholly good, so bad guys are never all bad. However, it's difficult to find anything of a redeeming nature in either of our books that we mention above; both are made bad by their own self-serving nature. It's worth noting that only some of our bad guys end up with their just deserts.<br /><br />Please provide your website link. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.davidBColes.co.uk ">http://www.davidBColes.co.uk </a><br /><a href="http://www.JackLEverett.me.uk ">http://www.JackLEverett.me.uk </a><br /><br />What is the link to buy your book? <br /><br /><a href="http://www.virtualtales.com/StoryProducts~tn~Last+Free+Men.html ">http://www.virtualtales.com/StoryProducts~tn~Last+Free+Men.html </a><br /><br />Thank you for telling us about your bad guys. We love to meet the "evil ones".Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-11787994318488040592007-09-18T09:00:00.000-07:002007-09-18T09:02:47.225-07:00On Borrowed Wings<strong>Who causes friction in the story? </strong>In ‘On Borrowed Wings’ there are two protagonists who particularly cause trouble for the others. Merchant and head of the household Gardar and his thrall Thyri, are both interested in power, control and getting their own way. Leif, heir to the household becomes an additional problem as the book develops because of his predatory sexual tendencies and lack of care for others.<br /><br /><strong>Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?</strong> I don’t think gender matters at all where villains are concerned. What seems more important to me is that they should have convincing motives for their actions, rather than just being evil, two dimensional plot devices.<br /><br /><strong>How do you use your bad guys? </strong>The bad guys create challenges for the more sympathetic characters. Their plots, machinations, betrayals, underhandedness, unfairness and cruelty force the other characters to act. Without at least a few trouble-makers in the mix, there wouldn’t be much of a story.<br /><br /><strong>Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?</strong> I really enjoy writing them – giving vent to the darker aspects of my imagination and trying to make the characters convincing, and perhaps even likeable at times.<br /><br /><strong>Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way? </strong>I love all my characters, even the horrible ones. Trying to get into the head of someone who behaves in despicable ways is always interesting, and I enjoy the challenge of trying to make them believable. I think most people consider themselves to be in the right, and most have a rational for what they do, an excuse or a justification, so I’m always looking for those to explore.<br /><br /><strong>Who is your favourite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?</strong> Gardar remains my favourite. He’s a singularly selfish and egotistical person, capable of making people fall in love with him even while he’s doing dreadful things to them. He’s violent, cruel and manipulative. He’s also very clever indeed, which makes him quite an adversary for the hero and heroine. Even though he’s quite a nasty piece of work, he isn’t inhuman, and has his own tragedies that make it difficult to entirely hate him.<br /><br /><strong>Who is your favourite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books? </strong>I remain very fond of Severus Snape from the Harry Potter books (although his status as a bad guy is complicated.) ‘Rebecca’ from Du Maurier’s book is an awesome villainess.<br /><br /><strong>Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know?</strong> Feel free to share. Although Gardar comes from quiet a violent culture (based loosely on the Vikings) it’s also an honourable one. What makes him especially unpleasant is his lack of honour – that he would cut down an unarmed man, bring dishonour to members of his family, use his power for sexual coercion and so forth. He has a lot of unpleasant secrets which emerge during the story.<br /><br /><strong>Please provide your website link. </strong>http://www.bryncolvin.mysitre.orange.co.ukNikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-35417431692169306642007-09-10T19:42:00.000-07:002007-09-10T19:47:03.549-07:00Partially Human by Dwayne Anderson<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/RuYBb7uvJOI/AAAAAAAAAUI/5X9Hm7gPrOA/s1600-h/Partially%2BHuman.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/RuYBb7uvJOI/AAAAAAAAAUI/5X9Hm7gPrOA/s320/Partially%2BHuman.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108772406700221666" /></a><br /><strong>Who causes friction is the story? </strong><br />While many characters do give Joshua a hard time, none trouble him so much more than Veranda Oltzon, a woman who is so prejudiced against people who are different, she kills them.<br /><br /><strong>Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals? </strong> <br />I really don’t have any preference.<br /><br /><strong>How do you use your bad guys?</strong> <br />They go against everything the hero stands for and they represent what the book condemns. For example, “Partially Human” is a story about accepting yourself and others for who they are and not rejecting them for being different, Veranda Oltzon represents human ignorance and prejudice at its worst.<br /><br /><strong>Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult? </strong> <br />It’s hard to say. It all depends on how much of their character development you’ve got.<br /> <br /><strong>Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?</strong> <br />Most villains, you grow to hate so much, you just can’t wait for the final confrontation for him or her to get just desserts. Other villains you come to take a liking to and feel sorry for them when they take their last breath. Veranda was a woman disillusioned by rejection as a child which ultimately affected her in a way that was so negative, she was beyond salvation, and ultimately got what she deserved in the end, so you both hate her, yet in the end, you feel sorry for her because of her negative experiences, yet she was unable to “let it go”.<br /><br /><strong>Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?</strong> <br />This is only my third book so far and I haven’t created that many villains to choose from. So far, I have no favorite, but perhaps later.Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-64215938593043193322007-08-28T11:15:00.000-07:002007-08-29T15:47:09.227-07:00Fraterfamilias by Peter Ferrer<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/RtRmoLuvIJI/AAAAAAAAALo/CZmAy0DN630/s1600-h/Fratermailias.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5103817118247231634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/RtRmoLuvIJI/AAAAAAAAALo/CZmAy0DN630/s320/Fratermailias.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>We want to hear about the bad guys, bad gals and villains in your book. Even if you don't have a murderer, thief or other "bad guy" there should be some negative force.<br /><br />Who causes friction is the story?<br /></strong>The most dangerous character in the story is a Homicide cop named Charlie Rains. He's in a bad place in life, which makes him vulnerable to manipulation by someone very, very scary who wants him to gather information about one of the book's main protagonists, Alan Kedward. But Charlie also finds himself sympathizing with Alan. It puts him in a tug of loyalties between his blackmailer and Alan that endangers everyone.<br /><br /><strong>Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?</strong><br />Bad gals, definitely. I want to read about tough gals who are willing to do bad things to get what they want, just like men. Do the bad things outright rather than manipulate men into doing them or dither over whether or not to do something bad that needs to be done.<br /><br /><strong>How do you use your bad guys?<br /></strong>I have never believed in "villains", per se. In real life, everyone is the hero of their own story and the villain of their story is whoever tries to stop them from doing or getting what they want in life. Alan Kedward, for example, is trying to cover up for his brother, Paul Farrell, who murdered four people in Paris. So, depending on whether the POV belongs to Alan or the investigators pursuing his brother, he's either a good guy or a bad guy. Sure, he's in a lot of the book and a lot of the book is from his point of view. But that was true of the villains of Eye of the Needle and Day of the Jackal, too.<br /><br /><strong>Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?<br /></strong>No, it's a fun challenge. You just keep in mind that no matter how scuzzy this person is, that person is the hero of his or her own story. It's the effect of his or her actions on others in the story that determines whether or not he or she is a villain. You should never write a character with whom you can't sympathize. It backfires and makes the reader dislike you for betting on the character. There's nothing more annoying than an insufferable protagonist.<br />And anyway, most of my protagonists are pretty bad, depending on how you look at them.<br /><br /><strong>Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?<br /></strong>I think that people who are backed into a corner don't act "nice", and that a lot of times, people can do horrible things to others under the cover of being nice and polite. I find that the underdogs who have to do "bad" things to survive are far more fascinating than clean-cut heroes who don't have to question the rigid moral codes by which they judge themselves and everyone around them.<br /><br /><strong>Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books?</strong><br />I'd have to say Charlie Rains. He's wonderfully conflicted. He's only a bad guy in this story. Doesn't mean he'll stay a bad guy. He's no Renfield in Dracula. The guy isn't weak, just in a bad place. He's capable of redemption.<br /><br /><strong>Which bad guy and which book are they in?<br /></strong>Fraterfamilias.<br /><br /><strong>Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?<br /></strong>Brian de Bois-Guilbert in Ivanhoe and Lucifer in Paradise Lost. Weren't they gloriously bad?<br /><br /><strong>Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know?</strong> Feel free to share.<br />Keep an eye on them. They don't always stay bad. The good guys don't always stay good, either. It keeps things interesting.<br /><br /><strong>Please provide your website link.<br /></strong><a href="http://www.geocities.com/rpcv.geo/other.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.geocities.com/rpcv.geo/other.html</a><br /><br /><strong>What is the link to buy your book?<br /></strong><a href="http://www.virtualtales.com/StoryProducts~tn~Fraterfamilias.html">http://www.virtualtales.com/StoryProducts~tn~Fraterfamilias.html</a><br /><br /><strong>Thank you for telling us about your bad guys. We love to meet the "evil ones".<br /></strong>You're welcome!</div>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-87578494787703514242007-08-21T19:45:00.000-07:002007-08-21T19:47:29.893-07:00Judi Moreo and Kim Baccelia - Virtual Tour StopsPromotional Interview with Judi Moreo<br /><br />This is the first author promotional interview that I've posted on my Self Promotion blog on the Inspired Author site. This is the first interview in a series that I'm doing with Kathleen Gage. She is posting some on her blog and I'll be posting all of the interviews on my site. To read about Judi Moreo's promotion - visit <br /><br /><a href="http://inspiredauthor.com/v3/promotional-interview-judi-moreo-0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://inspiredauthor.com/v3/promotional-interview-judi-moreo-0</a><br /><br />~ and ~<br /><br />Kim Baccellia - Young Adult Author - Earrings of Ixtumea<br /><br />Join Nikki Leigh and Muze as they interview young adult author Kim Baccelia about her book - Earrings of Ixtumea. This is the opening question of the interview - Nikki & Muze – I was reading the synopsis for your book and was intrigued by the inner struggle that your character faces. It’s also interesting that she is confronted by the same cultural problems in the fantasy world. Can you give us some information about how you came up with this idea and what sort of problems she deals with in the story?<br /><br />Kim –As a bilingual teacher in the later ‘80’s and early ‘90’s, I saw a lot with my second language students. I taught in a LA county school district, close to East LA. I also was researching my own family history at this time. I was bothered how each year my students would draw themselves blond, blue-eyed, and fair skinned.<br /><br />Click here to learn more about Kim and Earrings of<br />Iztumea<a href="http://muzesmusings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://muzesmusings.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />Nikki Leigh – Fiction Author – <a href="http://www.nikkileigh.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.nikkileigh.com</a><br />Book Promo 101 – <a href="http://www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm</a><br />“Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance”Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-73069192325274602282007-08-19T17:08:00.000-07:002007-08-19T17:11:43.442-07:00Round Table Magician by Ann Tracy Marr<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/RsjcJLuvH-I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/No41ikPnxlM/s1600-h/RTMagician_150.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100568628322836450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/RsjcJLuvH-I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/No41ikPnxlM/s320/RTMagician_150.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>Who causes friction in Round Table Magician?<br /></strong><br />Someone stole Mr. Jackson's papers. Whoa - lets change that to someone stole military papers from Mr. Jackson's library. Confidential, secret military plans. It is a case of espionage, pure and simple, but Lady Martha doesn't know that. Round Table Magician Lord Brinston has all the background facts, but being a typical male, he doesn't share the facts. No wonder the poor man tears his hair out, trying to keep Martha from looking for the spy.<br /><br /><strong>The baddie?</strong> </div><br /><div></div><div>You have to read Round Table Magician. Help Martha pick the spy out of a cast of suspects. Try to deduce the motive for the theft. Then you can cheer Brinston on as he catches the villain.<br /><br /><strong>Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?<br /></strong><br />Both are interesting. What I enjoy revealing is villainy done in the name of a good cause.<br /></div><br /><div><strong>How do you use your bad guys?<br /></strong><br />My villains haven't done murder, though they may come close. They just decide they want something and do what they can to grab it. Nothing wrong with having goals -- except they go about it the wrong way -- and they go too far.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?<br /></strong><br />Villains are easy. They are people just like you and me, but with something twisted inside them. Where they should step back -- where anyone else would realize they were going too far -- the villains have blinders on. Like an elephant stampeding the circus to snuffle the peanuts scattered by a silly kid in the parking lot.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way.<br /><br /></strong>Not being a huge fan of the mystery genre or monsters, I don't go all out and create a mystery, complete with clues, red herrings, and detectives or a horror novel with psychos running rampant. What I love is creating a character with a quirk that makes life difficult for everyone else.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?<br /></strong><br />Mothers can't favor one child over another. Besides, I only have two books and two baddies so far. </div><br /><div></div><div>Round Table Magician and the thief is available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/</a> as a trade paperback. Check out <a href="http://www.freewebs.com/marr794" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.freewebs.com/marr794</a> to see what's up.</div>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-9721457148304856522007-08-19T16:42:00.000-07:002007-08-19T16:46:33.233-07:00Scion of the Dark Moon by Kingsley Montgomery<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/RsjWGruvH8I/AAAAAAAAAKA/d04XjzUb2Hg/s1600-h/ScionOfTheMoon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100561988303396802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/RsjWGruvH8I/AAAAAAAAAKA/d04XjzUb2Hg/s320/ScionOfTheMoon.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>We want to hear about the bad guys, bad gals and villains in your book. Even if you don't have a murderer, thief or other "bad guy" there should be some negative force.</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><br /><div><strong>Who causes friction is the story?<br /><br /></strong>A goblin skin-shaper named Urchul is the primary antagonist in Scion of the Dark Moon, though there are many others, ranging from scheming politicians to demons of the void. Goblins in the world of Terralis are a race of powerful beings that pose a constant threat to the other major race – humans. Goblin society is built around necromancy and demons, who they worship as gods.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals? </strong>Both have their place.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>How do you use your bad guys?<br /></strong><br />The ‘bad guys’ in Scion of the Dark Moon work at opposing purposes from the protagonists, who are predominantly human. Though many of the antagonists are clearly ‘evil’ people (and creatures), some are not so clearly defined.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?<br /></strong><br />I find it easier to write about the bad guys. Bad guys are typically more dynamic, and definitely have fewer limitations. It’s a good reason to make ‘good guys’ somewhat ‘bad’!</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?<br /></strong><br />Bad guys are fun to write because they have fewer acceptable limits – they typically do what they want, when they want, and they are more often unpredictable. These features lead to more possibilities for interesting writing. I feel less constraint when writing about the bad guys. In fantasy, this is particularly true because you can create all manner of diabolical plot lines for your antagonists, whereas your protagonists usually have to walk the ‘straight and narrow’.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?<br /><br /></strong>My favorite bad guy is Urchul in Scion of the Dark Moon. He’s a goblin skin-shaper, an assassin who can take the appearance of those he kills by magically adhering their skin to his own. Though he would be considered repulsive and decidedly ‘evil’ to most of us, he was bred to do what he does, and feels he is serving his race in a justifiable way. His single-minded adherence to duty is actually a very respectable trait. </div><br /><div></div><div><strong>Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?<br /><br /></strong>One of my favorite fictional bad guys is the robot Erasmus in Brian Herbert’s Dune prequels (The Butlerian Jihad, The Machine Crusade, and The Battle of Corrin). Erasmus is a sentient robot and one of the rulers of the Synchronized Empire that has enslaved most of humanity. Ironically, he is constantly torturing people in his eternal quest to ‘understand’ humans and be more like them. Ironically again, he ends up adopting a human ‘son’ who he grows to love, in his own way, which is his undoing in the end. This dichotomy, and the author’s brilliant portrayal, make Erasmus one of the best bad guys I’ve read in a long time.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free to share.</strong></div><br /><div>The bad guys in Scion of the Dark Moon take many forms. The human bad guys are often nobles grabbing for power, backstabbing, and intriguing their way to the top. Then there are the goblins, a race inimical to mankind that have been manipulating human affairs as they seek to dominate Terralis as they once did, before the ascendance of Man. They are schemers as well as necromancers and demonologists, both of which are central to their religion and culture.<br /></div><div><strong>Please provide your website link.</strong><br /><br />Books by Kingsley Montgomery can be found at <a href="http://www.kvmbooks.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.kvmbooks.com/</a>. </div><br /><div></div><div><strong>What is the link to buy your book?<br /></strong></div><br /><div>Scion of the Dark Moon can be purchased from my Web site at <a href="http://www.kvmbooks.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.kvmbooks.com/</a>, via Amazon.<br /></div><br /><div>Kingsley Montgomery<br />Fantasy or sci-fi reader? Visit my author site at <a href="http://www.kvmbooks.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.kvmbooks.com/</a> </div>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-59346948457457449762007-08-08T18:29:00.000-07:002007-08-08T18:31:44.219-07:00Kelly Heckart - Of Water and Dragons<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/Rrpub--iifI/AAAAAAAAAHM/k-_TYsDL2hY/s1600-h/OfWaterandDragons.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096507355363969522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/Rrpub--iifI/AAAAAAAAAHM/k-_TYsDL2hY/s320/OfWaterandDragons.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>We want to hear about the bad guys, bad gals and villains in your book. Even if you don't have a murderer, thief or other "bad guy" there should be some negative force.Who causes friction is the story? </strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>There is more than one negative force in Of Water and Dragons. The Roman legions play a roll as a negative force trying to bend the Celts to their will, but one character, a female warrior named Rhonwyn, causes friction in the story, but she isn't an evil person. She acts on love and ends up causing trouble for herself and everyone else. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals? </strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I like both bad boys and bad gals. It depends on the plot of the story. How do you use your bad guys? So far, the bad boys or girls I have written are not totally evil. Something usually happens to change their thinking or they have a redeeming quality about them. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult? </strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I enjoy writing troubled characters. I think that makes them more real because we all struggle with our inner demons. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way? </strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I think everyone has a dark side and only some decide to act on it at some point in their life. I find it interesting as to what exactly causes that breaking point within a person. As a writer, it is also fun to get inside a villain's head and get to act out my dark side that way. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in? </strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I think I would have to say Morgaine from White Rose of Avalon, which is going to be released November 16, 2007. She isn't an evil being, but in her desperation to save Avalon, she nearly destroys everyone she cares about. Because of that, some people might view her as evil. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books? </strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I am going with a t.v. character because he really defined a redemptive bad boy in my eyes. Spike, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, once a totally evil vampire without a conscience, goes through a change and gives own life to save Sunnydale in the last episode. The drastic change he went through was believable. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Thank you for telling us about your bad guys. We love to meet the "evil ones".<br /></div><br /><div>Kelley Heckart<br /></div><br /><div>Author of Of Water and Dragons,</div><br /><div>"an appealing amalgam of magic, erotica, military history, and romance that will leave readers breathless in its wake." Ellen Tanner Marsh, NYT best-selling author<br />http://<a href="http://www.kelleyheckart.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.kelleyheckart.com/</a></div>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-42948331490994546772007-08-02T16:26:00.000-07:002007-08-02T16:28:49.041-07:00The Daemonhold CurseWe want to hear about the bad guys, bad gals and villains in your book. Even if you don't have a murderer, thief or other "bad guy" there should be some negative force. The book is The Daemonhold Curse from Epress-Online… (<a href="http://www.epress-online.com/">www.epress-online.com</a>)<br /><br /><strong>Who causes friction is the story?<br /></strong>Abstinence Daemon, half brother of the heroine Fidelity, is the source of considerable friction: he doesn’t believe in the curse that threatens her nor does he have any confidence in Erique Shoutte, who she has asked to help her.<br /><br /><strong>Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?<br /></strong>I prefer heroes, absolutely; though having played almost nothing but bad guys in films for thirty years, I came to realize that villains never think they are villains<br /><br /><strong>How do you use your bad guys?<br /></strong>To counterpoint the heroes. After all, the hero must have a strong villain to overcome or his journey means little<br /><br /><strong>Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?<br /></strong>I find it hard as they are people I would not want to spend time with in real life, and you have to spend a lot of time in their heads.<br /><br /><strong>Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?<br /></strong>It’s the same reason I don’t like a lot of popular culture—why would you spend so much time with people you have no admiration for—unless you are sick. You should not be so interested in people like Hannibal Lecter, with the exception of how to exterminate or avoid him…<br /><br /><strong>Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?</strong><br />I would have to say the White Tiger- the villain, in a very arch way, of my 1930’s series The Adventures of the Granite Man (from virtualtales.com). He is of the Fu Manchu School of yellow menace, though hopefully not so stereotyped or racist….<br /> The White Tiger, attired in silk robes, would have dwarfed even the huge Hindu standing. He had dead white skin and a baldhead that seemed out of proportion to his body. The left side of his body was horribly scarred by some disaster in his turbulent past, and the scarring had been horribly accentuated by primitive tattooing that had organized the scar tissue into the semblance of a tiger’s black stripes. His right eye was a cold black diamond fixed in a mask of skin folds, seeming to defy racial type. His left eye had been replaced by a carved jade and crystal cat’s eye. And his mouth: it seemed to hold endless perfect teeth that were somehow ghastly and inhuman in their perfection. The White Tiger displayed them frequently when he tightened the sallow skin of his face into a rictus smile that threatened to rip his visage asunder. It was at those times that The White Tiger’s look reminded Papal of a grinning skull.<br /> It was not the physical appearance of the White Tiger that filled Papal with fear, however. It was the fact that The White Tiger was the supreme head of the Triad, the criminal underworld of Hong Kong and the hundreds of thousands of expatriate Chinese throughout the world. As such he held the absolute power of life and death over a fifth of humanity.<br /><br /><strong>Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?<br /></strong>Frankenstein’s Monster.. He was so misunderstood in the book, and tried so hard to do the right thing, yet was thwarted at every turn…<br /><br />Thank you for telling us about your bad guys. We love to meet the "evil ones".Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-29292789528403383862007-08-02T15:36:00.000-07:002007-08-02T15:40:32.121-07:00The Coming Evil, Book One: The Strange Man by Greg Mitchell<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/RrJdVu-iiTI/AAAAAAAAAFs/iKZ1S40jpl8/s1600-h/The+Coming+Evil+-+Greg+Mitchell.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094236756478429490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/RrJdVu-iiTI/AAAAAAAAAFs/iKZ1S40jpl8/s320/The+Coming+Evil+-+Greg+Mitchell.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>The Coming Evil</strong><br /><strong>Book One: The Strange Man </strong><br /><strong>by Greg Mitchell<br /></strong><br /><strong>Who causes friction in the story?</strong> A demon known only as “The Strange Man”.<br /><br /><strong>Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals? </strong><br /><br />Bad gals. Don’t ask me why, but I think they’re more interesting. Maybe that’s just me being a chauvinist, or whatever, but when I see a girl-gone-bad, I wonder about the wounded little girl inside and how I might help her. Awww…<br /><br /><strong>How do you use your bad guys? </strong><br /><br />As they say, your hero is only as good as your villain. In the case of The Coming Evil, the villain is sort of a blessing in disguise. Those who should be heroes have, basically, fallen asleep on the job. And it’s only when they’re faced with the Strange Man that they realize that. I don’t really see bad guys as opposition but as an awakening. We don’t know what we’re made of until we’re tried and tested.<br /><br /><strong>Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult? </strong><br /><br />I really like writing the Strange Man because he’s just so nasty. He’s really that dark side of me—if I had no compassion, no mercy, no love, no Christ—I think I would be a lot like the Strange Man. He’s much more a mystery in this first book, but as the series progresses, we’ll learn more about what makes him tick. I’m looking forward to that. I think his reasoning might surprise you.<br /><br /><strong>Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Again, he’s the dark side of me. He’s my fears, my insecurities, even my anger. So writing him—and more importantly writing about those who overcome him—is a way for me to battle my own demons. It’s really cathartic.<br /><br /><strong>Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?<br /></strong><br />Well, the Strange Man is the only bad guy in the books…so far. I’ve got other favorites that appear later on in the trilogy, but to tell you would spoil it. So, I’ll just say the Strange Man for now. Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books? I know I should pick some famous character from literature—like Moriarty or something—but I’m going to have to say Freddy Krueger. That guy terrified me as a kid (still does, come to think of it) because he was just so happy about being evil. He got such a thrill out of seeing others suffer and, to me, there’s nothing scarier than that. It’s not the cold, methodic, sophisticated mastermind. It’s the deranged lunatic that gets a giggle from visiting terror on others. Frightening.<br /><br />The Coming Evil, Book One: The Strange Man<br />"Evil comes for us all...and for some of us, it's already here."<br /><a href="http://www.thecomingevil.com/" target="_blank">http://www.thecomingevil.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.thecomingevil.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.thecomingevil.blogspot.com/</a></div>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-64098402702171704232007-07-29T20:15:00.001-07:002007-07-29T17:11:49.188-07:00The Villian from XIII by Keith Gaston<a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/Rq0sMO-iiLI/AAAAAAAAAEs/hBNIO-Bwm_U/s1600-h/XIII.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092775342316357810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/Rq0sMO-iiLI/AAAAAAAAAEs/hBNIO-Bwm_U/s320/XIII.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>Who causes friction is the story?<br /></strong></div><br /><div>Jason Peters<br /></div><br /><div><strong>Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?<br /></strong></div><br /><div>I don’t have a preference both make great villains.<br /></div><br /><div><strong>How do you use your bad guys? </strong><br /></div><br /><div>Jason is tormented and going through a transformation. He promised to give up something very important to him and it is changing him physically and spiritually to hold on to it.<br /></div><br /><div><strong>Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?</strong><br /></div><br /><div>The bad guys are the best part of a thriller. I would find it difficult not to write a good bad guy. </div><div> </div><div><strong>Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?<br /></strong></div><div>A villain drives the story forward and gives the hero his or her motivation to go on despite the odds they must face.<br /></div><br /><div><strong>Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?<br /></strong></div><br /><div>This one is tough to answer, I have about three villains I could place here but I will stick with the one who’s the most evil of all.<br /></div><br /><div>Beelzebub (Beelzy) Abaddon from XIII. I like him because of his quirkiness; he walks around in his office in his bare feet, smoke Cuban cigars, always finds a way to manipulate people in his soft spoken way and oh yes, he’s the devil.<br /></div><br /><div><strong>Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books? </strong></div><strong><div><br /></strong></div>Professor Moriaty from Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series. I’m also partial to the Master, from Doctor Who. <div> </div><div>Keith (D. K. Gaston)<br /><a href="http://www.dkgaston.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.dkgaston.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/dkgaston" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.myspace.com/dkgaston</a><span style="color:#000000;"></div></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-693780504603621653.post-41533926595091926102007-07-29T20:15:00.000-07:002007-07-29T16:59:05.222-07:00Meet the Villian from Tempted by Rita Thedford<a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/Rq0phu-iiKI/AAAAAAAAAEk/lyF4aFzn-cQ/s1600-h/TEMPTED.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092772413148661922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_l-gSRz9BTzU/Rq0phu-iiKI/AAAAAAAAAEk/lyF4aFzn-cQ/s320/TEMPTED.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>We want to hear about the bad guys, bad gals and villains in your book. Even if you don't have a murderer, thief or other "bad guy" there should be some negative force.<br /><br /><strong>Who causes friction is the story?<br /></strong><br />Despite the sparks that fly between my hero and heroine, it is a strong cast of several villains who provide negative impact in Tempted, my regency set historical romance. Both protagonists have vile enemies who unite in a single effort to bring ruin to the two lovers, Elizabeth and Christian. Edward Huntley, Lord Stanhope, is the man who murdered his wife, Elizabeth’s sister. Christian has an enemy in the form of his cousin, Park Mansfield, who will inherit a vast title should Christian fail to marry by midnight of his 35th birthday. Park teams up with Beatrice Fitzgerald, who hates Christian because she sees him as a threat to her son. She also would like to “hook up” with Park after he inherits a fortune. Greedy wench!<br /><br /><strong>Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?<br /></strong><br />Personally, I prefer “bad gals” because they are so unexpected. Women are seen throughout history as lovers, nurturers, and caregivers so it is vastly unexpected and surprising to read about these wicked women. They are villains who constantly stun the reader with their reliance on cunning and manipulation as opposed to physical strength. This makes them unforgettable. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>How do you use your bad guys?<br /></strong><br />In Tempted, my “bad guys” continually throw up barriers between my hero and heroine. Edward Huntley, is pro-active in his plot for revenge as he sends out henchmen to kill Elizabeth but he’s a pitiful guy. He never succeeds and he’s stupid. On the other hand, Park is very smart and cunning. He hides behind the façade of being slightly stupid. He’s also outrageously handsome. His lover, and the queen witch of this piece, is Beatrice. She is cunning, calculating, and utterly horrific as she weaves intricate plots and plans to destroy the lovers. Both Park and Beatrice are three dimensional characters. Mid way through Tempted, however, the villains manage to bring the lovers together despite every attempt at the opposite. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?<br /></strong></div><br /><div>No. I loooove crafting bad guys…the smarter, more cunning, the better. As someone who tends to bottle up anger, for me, it is a great (and safe) release (grinning). Once I begin to vent through my villain, everything is just organic.<br /><br /><strong>Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?<br /><br /></strong>For a writer, especially one who is a NICE person, it’s very challenging. Crafting a terrifically wicked “bad guy” just makes the story much more interesting. Besides, sometimes it’s FUN to be BAD.<br /></div><br /><div><strong>Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?</strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I have to say that Beatrice Fitzgerald from Tempted is the worst of the lot and she was deliciously wicked. Bea was beautiful, cunning, and murderous.<br /></div><br /><div><strong>Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?<br /></strong></div><br /><div>Oh, that’s easy. Nurse Ratchett from Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is my all time favorite “bad guy” or should I say, “bad girl”. Thank you for telling us about your bad guys. We love to meet the "evil ones".</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Tempted- a sizzling romance set in regency England </div><br /><div>available now at <a href="http://www.wingsepress.com/" target="_blank">http://www.wingsepress.com/</a> Golden Wings Award Winner</div><br /><div>Paperback ISBN 978-1-59705-911-0<br />e-book ISBA 978-1-59705-098-9 </div>Nikki Leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00985309338453728557noreply@blogger.com1